Friday's Preview (22nd August)

17:35 Goodwood 23 Aug 2019: 

Two horses of interest in the British E.B.F. Novice Stakes for 2-year-olds. The hot favourite I imagine will be the Charlie Appleby trained Volkan Star and rightly so. This Sea The Stars bay colt cost a cool 1,000,000 gns at the 2018 October Yearling sales. A pretty professional debut at Newmarket when travelling strongly throughout the race but was beaten by the unexpected winner Cepheus who is also highly regarded by trainer Brian Meehan. As for Volkan Star, this looks to be a stepping stone to bigger and better things. I imagine the step up in trip will bring out more improvement. The other horse of interest who could be each-way value is the Andrew Balding-trained Hold Fast. This Fastnet Rock filly made her debut here at the beginning of the month. Slowly away that day and looking very inexperienced, David Probert gave her a nice introduction and when the penny dropped she made steady progress. Stepping up in trip should bring some improvement and any market support will add a bit of confidence in what looks a nice race. 

14:15 Ffos Las 23 Aug 2019: 

Skontonovski is trained by Richard Spencer. This Harbour Watch colt made a pleasing debut at Newmarket at the beginning of August. Purchased for £50,000 in August 2018 and owned by Rebel Racing Premier. Skontonovski must have been working well before his debut because he started off 7/2 second favourite to the eventual winner Lazuli. This looked like a pretty nice race with the third-placed Ziggle Pops well-thought-of by Richard Hannon. Skontonovski was hampered at the start and checked when making his move a furlong out before running on again. Trainer Richard Spencer thinks very highly of Skontonovski and I expect a win won't be far away. Skontonovski was well-backed the other day at Windsor but was withdrawn. I may take an early price in case money comes in for him again. One negative is Richard Spencer hasn’t had the best 2-year-old season. 

14:05 Newmarket 23 Aug 2019: 

Two trackers of note here: 

Thread Of Silver.
Tomouh. 

15:15 Newmarket 23 Aug 2019: 

This looks above average race with a few big guns ready to be unleashed. A real tough call to pick the winner but I will note my trackers: 

Royal Crusade for the Charlie Appleby yard. This Shamardal homebred colt looks a nice type on paper and is highly regarded by Charlie Appleby who has given him a Group 1 and Group 2 entry. 

Impatient for the Ralph Beckett yard. The More Than Ready filly looked professional on debut at Kempton. Not the best draw and outpaced 3 furlongs out before staying on again the final furlong to close the gap on the nice Gosden winner Eshaasy. Should come on plenty for the experience and interested to see any market support for this nice looking filly. 

Great Image had an early entry for the Class 2 Peter Walwyn Stakes at Salisbury in June but didn't run. 

Good luck and thanks for reading.

4 Two-Year-Old Race Horses to Follow this Turf 2019

Four To Follow: 

Continuing with my 2-year-old horses to follow. 

Fox Duty Free will be a short price I imagine next timeout. The Andrew Balding Kingman colt was a 280,000 gns purchase in October last year. The King Power Racing owned colt was made favourite on his debut at Newbury in July. Fox Duty Free was slowly away that day and then to make things worse got hampered. Silvestre De Sousa came with a strong run with a couple of furlongs to go but couldn't quite catch the eventual winner Owney Madden. I don't think that was the strongest race but Fox Duty Free ran a great race despite the problems on his debut run. The fact he has been given a significant entry since his last run gives me confidence he should be winning his next race and is definitely one to keep an eye out for. 

Jamais Assez is a horse trainer Karl Burke rates highly after what looked like a promising debut. The 190,000 euro Invincible Spirit colt wasn't really fancied on debut when an 8/1 shot. Jamais Assez was quickly away that day at Ayr and looked to know his job before tiring late on. A Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes entry gives me some encouragement that Jamais Assez will be more clued-up next timeout and hopefully, he attracts some market support.

Pierre Lapin has already run once and won once. The Roger Varian trained Cappella Sansevero colt could be winning again before the season ends. Purchased for Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum for 140,000 gns last October, this bay colt made his debut at Haydock in May and after running green he soon put the race to bed with an impressive turn of foot. His sectionals confirmed it was a pretty decent debut despite being an average race. Roger Varian has given Pierre Lapin some fancy entries and me for one will be looking out for his next racecourse appearance. 

Skontonovski looks to be a surefire winner next timeout. The Richard Spencer trained Harbour Watch colt made a pleasing debut at Newmarket at the beginning of August. Purchased for £50,000 in August 2018 and owned by Rebel Racing Premier. Skontonovski must have been working well before his debut because he started off 7/2 second favourite to the eventual winner Lazuli. This looked a pretty nice race with the third-placed Ziggle Pops well-thought-of by Richard Hannon. Skontonovski was hampered at the start and checked when making his move a furlong out before running on again. Trainer Richard Spencer thinks very highly of Skontonovski and I expect a win won't be far away. 

Horses to follow updates: 

Abstemious (Won 11/8) was a short-priced winner for my 2-year-olds to follow. An impressive five-length victory for the Kevin Ryan trained gelding at York and will be looking to add to that victory in the coming months.

Dramatista: 
Declaring Love: 
Boma Green: 

Thanks for reading and look out for my next 2-year-olds to follow coming soon.